Judicial debate – part 2

 
Was Jesus Christ only the Son of Man?
 
Prosecutor: Let’s drink a beer and talk like we used to. We haven’t met up properly for a long time. Talk to me right now from the beginning of our meeting about your devils, then the beer will slip better down our throat.

Elijah was silent and smiled kindly. He pushed aside his cup of steaming coffee and sipped a glass of fresh fruit juice, which had just been brought to the table by the waiter. They both always liked the outdoor terrace during the summer. That day was a sunny day, beautiful early autumn daytime. He remembered that there was a time when they drank, joked together discussing many other naughty things known only to them. But for about a few years now their paths had begun to slowly drift apart. The big city, careers, family and many other material distractions had been the culprit. From time to time a phone call, coffee and occasionally a beer was the order of the day.

Prosecutor: After all my friend, what’s the big idea with Christianity anyway? You said something to me some time ago, but I didn’t put two and two together you were heading that way?

Lawyer: Well true culture is what comes from the past. We cannot appreciate and understand the Bible if we remove it from its own context and place it in our modern culture. Rather, we have to change our mindset to better understand the ancient way of life.

Prosecutor: Come on then refresh my biblical knowledge he said with a hint of irony. I accept the fact that you want to talk about it.

Lawyer: let me tell you why I became a Christian. I’ll do it in an analytical style that you understand the best.

Prosecutor: Please enlighten me. It seems like you want to tell me something interesting. I expect you’ve done vast research and study to keep your faith strong. Ever since I’ve known you, you’ve been searching for something different out of the ordinary.

Lawyer: Yes, I searched all the time, many people are at a stagnant level and just stay there. They think they don’t have to research and study yet this is far from the truth. Indeed I came across something very interesting which made me raise my eyebrows or two. That is, I saw in the Bible that Jesus Christ had a special kind of authority over the fallen spirits or demons, an authority that no one on earth had until Him. It doesn’t seem normal to you to ask yourself as I did at the time if true, then how could a mere human being from the material world, a simple man without education wield authority over the spirits which belong to another world, respectively the spiritual realm? An evil spirit is a spirit tending to cause harm. A disembodied spirit is any incorporeal supernatural being that can become visible (or audible) to human beings and can take a host.

So, then why would an evil spirit submit to a simple man?
Why did Jesus have this authority, if he was just a straightforward man?
Don’t you think these are pertinent questions?

The prosecutor rested his chin on his left palm while he played with the thumb of his other hand on the edge of the coffee cup. He was silent.

Lawyer: I don’t think that it could have happened if Jesus was just an uncomplicated man, he couldn’t have that kind of authority. Moreover, the holy life of Jesus could not be an argument for his authority over the spirits. From my point of view, only satan would have the authority over evil spirits, fallen angels, devils and demons. He is like them, they are made in his image and likeness. Satan is superior in the hierarchy to them in the spiritual realm. He was their King and a powerful leader.

Prosecutor: In fact, in my opinion, only demons would be willing to believe these theories of yours. We, humans, are not so easy to talk to. I need hard evidence, my friend. Where you see the logic in what you are telling me, I see the foolishness and if’s and but’s. We’ve all heard that devils are liars. Sometimes girls used to tell me that “I lie worse than the devil,” he said and smiled under his moustache.

Prosecutor: You say, Elijah, that you are a Christian, but as you speak, I would sooner think that you are a free thinker! he said taunting him a little like before in the times of their youth.

Lawyer: Yes, prosecutor, we know that the devils lie, he said, wanting to stay on their topic of discussion. In fact, one of their main jobs is to deceive and to cheat, this is why God calls us to know the truth. God’s Word says that Jesus is the way the truth the life.

From this perspective wouldn’t you say that the evil spirits should have been the first to hide or to lie about the identity of Jesus Christ? said Elijah, looking deeply into the eyes of his friend.

This is just because their interests are opposed to the work of Jesus and the work of salvation on the earth. But in the front of Christ, none of the fallen angels, evil spirits, and demons had the courage or the will to lie or deny Him. Not even the prince of the air Satan could deny Jesus authority and who He was. Satan knows the power of Christ so he tries to manipulate humans to cast doubt, sowing seeds of deception, and lies within the minds of the people. He tried with Jesus to tempt Him but failed like he tried with Adam and Eve and succeeded in Eden in the beginning.
The lawyer wanted to continue his idea, but the prosecutor interrupted him.

Prosecutor: A lawyer who is passionate about devils and Satan he said, a little hastily! Before Jesus allegedly died on the cross, Adam and Eve spiritually died and their eyes were opened he said, returning to the subject. In fact, the Bible indirectly supports the idea that at the basis of all knowledge was Lucifer, who opened the eyes of the first man and woman. He also opened the way of knowledge for all generations of people whether it’s good or bad. But, my friend, your eyes are still firmly closed to reality!

Lawyer: Well, prosecutor my eyes are still firmly closed to reality are they? he said a little angrily, but still trying to maintain a good atmosphere of friendship between them. If you keep saying that Lucifer opened the eyes of human beings, please open your own to this! Since you haven’t read the Bible, Lucifer is a fallen angel kicked out of heaven. His name was changed by God to Satan or the Devil. We also know him as the accuser, adversary, and the Beast. The Devil is the supreme spirit of evil.

But do you know what’s interesting my friend?
The Bible introduces Satan for the first time to us as the first demon who pretends to know that Jesus is the Son of God. Satan promised Jesus the world if he would bow down and worship him. What a nerve of this fallen angel the lawyer said, a little irritated after a moment’s thought.
The prosecutor liked the idea and laughed out loud at his friend and Elijah’s statement.

Prosecutor: I am telling you to be careful with Satan especially with the boss. Don’t come to me for help to defend you he said, laughing out loud. I will not defend you no matter how good friends we are. I will consider you reckless and foolish. The lawyer overcame easily his friend’s laughter, not wanting to give weight to his joke.

Lawyer: Look, Satan said something that Jesus never said. Before Satan tried to tempt Jesus in the wilderness Jesus did not openly state that He was the Son of God, but satan brought this up in question for the first time. What’s interesting is that Jesus was not surprised by the statement from Satan.

But, do you think Satan had doubts that Jesus was the Son of God?

Prosecutor: Maybe he played the field, he said jokingly.

Lawyer: Do you know where we can find the answer?

Prosecutor: Where? he asked curiously while he straightened his back, surprised by the question.

Lawyer: The answer can be found in the fact that Satan gives everything to Jesus and demands only one thing in return worship! There are two primary causes. The first arises from human nature and man’s innate hostility toward God’s ways, The second cause is Satan’s mastery in deceiving people. At the time of the end, Satan will not change his ways. He will raise up a powerful false prophet whose influence will not be hindered by political boundaries. Satan said to Jesus: I will give you all the dominion and glory of these kingdoms; for it is given to me, and I give it to whomever I will. If thou, therefore, wilt worship me, all shall be thine ”(Luke 4: 6-7).

How can you explain satan’s question and attitude?

Why would Satan require Jesus to worship him?

Why was this so important to Satan?

This clearly proved that Satan could not bring Jesus to his knees. In contrast, the whole world lies in the clutches of the Devil, with no one until Christ’s returns to save them if they have accepted Him as their Lord and saviour.

Tell me, please, why then did Jesus not bow down and worship Satan or could not be compelled by him?

Don’t forget satan is a little god of this age, in the Bible, he is put as a little (g) whereas God is a big (G). So he demanded worship from Jesus, just like he has been doing with all the inhabitants of the earth. Jesus said it clear that Satan ‘has nothing in Me’(John 14: 30-31) What does this mean? I mean in the sense that Satan could not claim any right over Jesus nor could He physically force Him to bend the knee. Please note the word ‘nothing’ One small sin could have cancelled this ‘nothing’ from Satan’s perspective.

So, what could satan have hoped for?

I will mention now only two things. First of all, Jesus could be brought to Satan’s knee by sin even a small transgression. Secondly, if Jesus had willingly bent the knee to Satan he would have not met the holy standard expected by God, and the plan of salvation for mankind would have failed.

Jesus preferred to physically die why was this?

As the Son of God, he knew that one day everything will be placed under His feet, and everything that moved on the earth or in the heavens will be under His standard and authority. This joy he carried in his soul, so that “for the joy that was set before him, he suffered the cross, despised the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” as it’s written in Hebrews 12: 2.
And above all, Jesus did God’s will to save mankind from the curse of sin.

Prosecutor: Well, come on, lawyer! Now you’ve gone too far, he said, but he immediately changed the direction of the conversation, intending to keep the balance of the good relationship between them. However, he said quickly, this great fallen angel might have been just a pretentious pretender. I am saying that with the intention of mine to stay on your terms.

Lawyer: Satan is recognized as the “god of this age” as the “lord of the power of the air.”
How do I know this?
It is written in the Bible. Jesus does not deny or accuse him of lying when Satan promises him “all the kingdoms,” because all the world was and is in his very hands. So Jesus did not worship or fear Him, even though He recognized his authority and knew that He was “the god of this age.”

My question for you is this: why didn’t Jesus worship the greatest authority of this age? Doesn’t that raise questions for you, prosecutor the lawyer asked?

Prosecutor: Why can’t we talk about Jesus as a rebel, who doesn’t want what satan wants, just like satan didn’t want what God wants?
In this way, Satan also reaps what he has sown. He was faced by Jesus, as God was confronted by Satan.

Lawyer: I didn’t think of that, he admitted. You doubt that satan was a great devil. He smiled at the sound of his own words. Maybe you think he continued as an inexperienced negotiator?
Remember that Satan dragged a third of the heavenly angels down with him. But as the “god of this age,” he knelt temporarily almost all the people of this earth with the possibility of a few exceptions. Under these conditions, why do you think that Satan would have given everything he has, all the dominion and authority just to a simple man, just to be worshipped?

What did Satan expect to receive from Jesus, since He was seen by man as the “son of the carpenter,” who hadn’t education, and who had “no place to lay his head”?

Because, from a human perspective, Jesus really had nothing to offer him.
We all agree that if you give something important away, then you must get something back worthwhile in return. Say you had all the kingdoms of the world in your hand and gave them up to a simple man, or a simple angel, what can you hope to achieve?

Prosecutor: How do I know what satan was thinking at the time, or what kind of calculations he was making?

Lawyer: Well then, what did satan know and the people didn’t know including yourself?

 
To be continued Judicial debate – part 3
 

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